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3:59 pm
March 1, 2010
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I think like everyone, their back hand is weaker than their forehand. I have read the article on back hand shots and still found it hard to do a clear frommy back lines to the opents help!
8:42 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
M.Y.
Any chance of sending me a video of you hitting a backhand? Email me a link and I will look at it in private. See Dory’s story of how I helped him exactly the same way.
There are a number of simple errors players make on their backhands. Here’s a quick check list…
1) not getting your feet in the right position to play the shot
2) way too much tension which means you lose power.
3) the hitting action is incorrect
4) shoulders are in the wrong place
5) elbow pointing too high
6) trying to hit the shuttle when it’s already passed behind them
7) trying to hit with the back of the hand. Sorry to say, virtually all backhand shots are karate chops and hit with the side of the hand, not the back of the hand.
Hope this helps.
Paul
3:39 pm
March 1, 2010
Offline I’ve sent you a link to the video that you asked for.
Many thanks
M.y
12:48 pm
March 1, 2010
Offline Looking around the internet i read conflicting idea about the grip yuo should use for a backhand clear. I was hoping someone can help. Do you use the thumb grip or the bevel grip?
1:29 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline M.Y.
I agree. There is a huge amount of information but a lot of it is disjointed and some contradicts another.
The latest thinking about backhands is to use the bevel grip. The reason for this is purely down to speed. As the game is so much faster these days, the key skill any player must have is to change grip quickly.
But, as the game has got faster, a players ability to change grip dimishes so the bevel grip has emerged as the simplest way of hitting backhand shots because there is so little movement between forehand and bevel grip.
If you have time, then a backhand grip is more preferable because you can get more weight behind the shot, albeit marginal when you can master the bevel grip. But, when you have little time to respond, then the bevel grip is the one to use.
Hope this clears it up for you. Practice with both and see which you prefer.
Paul
10:45 am
July 13, 2010
Offline 
Hi M.y
For me (and i may be way off mark but works for me) i find the thing most people myself included in my earlier days try to do on all shots but particularly back hand clear and forehand/backhand smash is try to hit the shot 'hard'. I have found that get the shot 'right' and by that i mean get your technique in order and then naturally power will come.
At a one club I play at (low league players) the players are always saying they wish they could hit it ‘hard’ like myself and a couple of other players who’ve played or play 1st Div and as I know Paul’s touched on in many blogs and on the forums there is a myth surrounding hitting the shuttle hard, technique is the only way you will hit a good hard shot be it forehand or back hand, the best way to prove this is try to stop hitting the shuttle hard and concentrate on putting the shuttle consistently ( I did this when my smash went to pot found to be a problem with my grip) but in stripping down the shot I found it to be my grip, but I digress if you practice putting the shuttle where you want you will find without trying the power will come and more than you thought possible.
The best exponent of this I know is a guy in his 60’s I play with who has played at a high level in his days but even now his backhand (perfect technique) is a potent weapon his backhand clear is unreadable and can be straight or cross court into the box every time showing that technique not power is the way to achieve that ‘hard’ smash/clear.
Hope I’m not to far off the mark here.
Good luck and hope it helped
Rich
ps just found the perfect example of an amazing backhand Taufik showing how not trying to hit it hard but creating great power.
NR=1
6:59 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Rich
I totally agree with your comments. I have just filmed a video on backhand clear which is the third video in my online coaching program, due for launch very soon. I cover a lot of points in this video and demonstrate my coaching method to build a solid backhand.
Grip is vital to pulling off any power shot. If you grip too tight then there’s no way you can get the power you require. But it’s also incredibly hard to create a new habit if you’ve been gripping the racquet too tight for many years.
Paul
7:08 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline I was under the impression that, although the bevel grip is indeed faster to get to than the traditional thumb grip for backhand overheads, actually there is a second advantage to using the bevel grip, in that it allows for a greater range of movement of the forearm/wrist, and hence allows for a contact point that is more in line with the body, or even slightly behind the body.
This is in contrast to a thumb grip where, correct me if I am wrong, you will probably hit shots most consistently when they are in front of the body (between the body and the net). I have always felt that if it is possible to take the backhand high and in front of the body, it is probably better to hit the shot round the head. In most situations, a high backhand is required BECAUSE of a slightly later contact point (in line or slightly behind the body), usually when a player is surprised/late to the shot i.e. in serious trouble in this rally anyway.
I would imagine it is rather difficult to keep the shuttle IN the court if using a thumb grip if the shuttle has almost passed the plane of your body.
Similarly, i would consider you had fairly limited overhead backhand attacking options, such as fast drops and smashes or drives using the traditional thumb grips.
So in summary: I feel the thumb grip is best when the shuttle is in front of the body, but for a comfortable or slightly late overhead, the bevel grip would be a better choice.
What do you guys think of that analysis? Is there anyone out there who can hit a good backhand smash or late backhand overhead using a traditional thumb grip?
Matt
7:16 pm
June 6, 2010
Offline I for one have completely switched to the bevel grip except for late shots, drives and some net shots. I'll change it just slightly towards a panhandle to play crosscourt drops, but I like the consistency and versatility the bevel grip gives me. Full-lenght clears with the backhand are no trouble at all either.
I wonder if Paul is going to touch on that backhand crosscourt drop. It's one of those shots you can never be too good at. 
10:04 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Marc
I completed a video recently on backhand clear. I totally agree about using bevel grip, especially when the shuttle is behind the player. It also allows far greater range of movement to disguise cross court shots.
The next video I’m filming will be on backhand straight drop shot and there will be a specific video on cross court backhand shots.
I do feel that most players miss the key points to hitting a good backhand. The main point is to prepare well. I see too many players get the basics wrong and then try to launch everything at the shuttle which usually ends up with a loose shuttle that’s easily put away.
Out of all the books and videos I’ve seen I don’t recall anyone discussing the hand position which in my opinion plays a pivotal role in the success of the shot.
Hopefully other forum members will contribute to this thread. It’s going to be interesting seeing what they have to say.
Paul
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